Heat recovery ventilator with make-up air capability

US6328095A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. · US

Inventors

• Steven M. Felber · Eagan, US
• Timothy J. Kensok · Minnetonka, US
• Ron S. Ragland · Minneapolis, US
• Leisha J. Rotering · Minneapolis, US
• Timothy J. Smith · Minneapolis, US
• Russell A. Straate · Lexington, US
• Brad Terlson · Maple Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 6, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2001
• Expiry date: Mar 6, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F24F2203/1084
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A ventilation system for ventilating fresh air to a conditioned space, the system capable of supplying substantially more air to the space than is removed by the system in order to prevent depressurization inside the space. Passing through the unit housing is an inflow chamber, an outflow chamber, and a make-up air duct. Two blowers, an intake blower and an exhaust blower, are placed within the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber in order to motivate inflow and outflow currents of air. A damper acts to open and close the make-up air duct. When the damper is in an open position and the intake blower operates at a higher speed than the exhaust blower the system increases the air pressure within the conditioned space. A heat transfer wheel is disposed within both the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber to exchange heat between the two currents of air. A pre-heater is placed in the make-up air duct to be used in cold weather conditions to heat the air which bypasses the heat recovery wheel. The system can also include a desiccant wheel and regenerative heater in order to provide the function of dehumidification.